After Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, announced Monday he won’t run for U.S. Senate, questions of who will run against Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, started rising.
Although Chaffetz’s announcement leaves a huge gap of candidates, Hatch’s campaign isn’t guaranteed to have an easy way in. According to the Daily Herald, Hatch’s campaign manager Dave Hansen said he expects other Republicans to step up to challenge the six-term senator.
Many, including Utah Tea Party leader David Kirkham, are considering the opportunity to take the challenge. Kirkham said the Tea Party is looking for someone more consistent in being fiscally conservative to run against Hatch.
State Sen. Dan Liljenquist, R-Bountiful; State Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem; and Morgan Philpot, who ran against Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, in the last election, are other potential candidates to run against Hatch.
Utah’s filing deadline is March 15, 2012.
